I might like the Neandertal type, you never know

I think I have a big, wooden club stashed under the stairs somewhere!

Great stuff, all, I'm really looking forward to this now.

Solari, Do we pay on the day?

Yup, I am female.




Err, just looked/listened to it on you-tube, will dig up the score on the internet and try it out tonight. Does it have pedalling? I'm not the best with the pedal.

This is it yeah? This copy has seems to have "instructions" too.

http://imslp.info/files/imglnks/usimg/6/6c...mer_English.pdf

That's it... it's a poor quality scan though. I have a much cleaner version. It does have some really useful info on that one though, thanks for posting that link!

Like it says, you aren't supposed to pedal, but tbh, for the purposes of a bit of fun, a little pedal won't hurt for effect if you really want to use it

errrr. wrong lol - I am female, name is made up of all 3 of my children's names. Think it gets a lot of people.

ET




Looking good at the moment, but give me a few more days just in case hubbie changes his mind and says that he does want to go away. At the moment it is a big flat no!

Don't forget though will need to meet someone at either London Bridge or Victoria.



That sounds like great fun Barry, hope that you are more patient than my son, he is always telling me off for not being quick enough. lol

You obviously aren't fluttering your eyelashes enough!

No worries, we have loads of time!

I'll try harder, maybe I am but he just isn't looking lol

We have an night out together tomorrow evening as son going out for a sleepover, I will work on him then. I really need that sun.

Yep, though the clari is a transposing instrument. I'll be able to transpose on the go, though, so don't worry about that.



That is a lovely room : all looks good to me



Leave that with me Sol

Yep I will sort it out on the day

You have mail, btw


^^^ Thanks Barry!

No problem : I'll PM you all in due course

You'll need these once I get on there - I fully intend to have fun making lots of noise

Sure you don't want to have a go on the piano Barry? I could always help you learn something short and sweet or we could do one hand each!

I shall give it some thought Sol!

The piano I can say is a very nice one everyone

Can I ask those of you who are going if any of you have any specific dietary requirements? It'll influence the choice(s) of post-event restaurant. Just drop me an email/PM.

Thanks!

I'll eat pretty much anything.

Seeing as you may be a big scary Neandertal - just dont eat me

Barry, I eat a macrobiotic diet, hope thats ok?








Only joking!

I'll put some options up on the forum soon

A few meal options...

The Phoenix : pub grub (very good pub grub ), but not an awful lot for vegetarians (there's a pasta meal which is very nice, plus veggie burgers, but not a lot else).

Strada : Italian restaurant. Very good pizzas.

Garfunkel's : Amercian style food (burgers, steaks etc.). A chain, but none the worse for that.

Pizza Express : does what it says on the tin

The phoenix sounds good - but i'll go with the flow. Same for my other half seeing as he is coming along too.

thanks Mini_mo!

Phoenix sounds good to me if it's a nice juicer

I think it's a good little place Solari

It has decent, relatively inexpensive food and drink, and there's usually at least a couple of real ales on.

Is this only for Forum members, or is it open to others too? Or have you got enough people anyway? I have a couple of adult piano pupils who might well be interested........

I *think* it's full, but a quick PM to Solari will get the latest situation Jo

I think if we have any more people along than are currently planned for, it could end up rather cosy, and I'm not sure that people want to get too intimate with strange forum members!

If ET can't make it, we will have 1 slot free, but we'll see if she can convince her hubby to take her away or not

Looks like the Phoenix is most popular...I'll look into it in the week

It will probably sound better than an ordinary upright (like any other instrument this assumes that it is properly set up and looked after, but it is probably a fair assumption since they are charging for it!)

However, not sure about the hammers being assisted by gravity: In fact it is the exact opposite - the hammer hits the string from below, against gravity. This contributes to a tendency for a grand piano action to feel slightly heavier than an upright. This greater inertia of the keys comes as a bit of a surprise but once you get used to it you realize that a grand piano action is also much more sensitive and responsive, and the range of dynamics available is huge. I may not be expressing this very well -someone with greater technical background may be able to do better - but suffice to say the guess is based on a misapprehension!

I don't know anything other than what I've read but a few weeks ago I picked up an informative little book in a secondhand shop called The Rough Guide to the Piano, which says that the hammers of a grand strike upwards rather than forwards so when you release the keys, gravity enables the dampers and hammers to fall back into place by themselves. This apparently means (together with having slightly longer keys apparently) that you've got more control over the sound - eg it's easier to go from very soft to very loud and playing rapidly repeated notes is easier. I don't suppose the author/publisher will mind me using what they've said if I give the book a plug Oh and make sure you play with the lid open and reflecting the sound towards the audience off the inside of the lid (plug for the Rough Guide again )

This sounds like a really fun thing to do Solari - are you planning to work your way round all the piano studios If you do one next Spring/Summer, I'd love to try and come down to one!

Well... if it goes well, I'm looking at making it a regular thing, kind of like a Piano Support Group

They also have a performance space there, so perhaps a learner's piano concert might be an idea at some point.

I think it's quite a nice idea to have G0-G5 together as there isn't the intimidation of having the higher grades around who make you realise that you still have a mountain to climb! It remains just a bit of fun, and a confidence boosting exercise for playing in front of others in a non-judgemental environment.

Nah, he's planning to work his way round forum members who play the piano


(not really, obviously )

Besides, I've not spent enough time around you to learn your seductive techniques, yet!

You have to be born with that kind af talent

Well considering that I just don't have the "magnificent frontage", I think I'd fail in trying to employ any of your techniques anyway! All I'd get out of that would be court orders!

Discovered another place during the weekend, which might be interesting for future events: 1901 Arts Club - practically on the doorstep of Waterloo station - has a gorgeous Steinway C (plus the venue is stunning). Slightly pricey, though Link here (When I walked in, my first thought was it'd be perfect for a forum concert, but I don't think they'd let us disguise a forum concert as a "rehearsal" )

Also, if you want to make this a regular event (great idea!) and accommodate a few more people, you might want to consider the larger teaching rooms at RCM; they do hire those out during non-term time. No idea about the price, though.

Musicians based in London requiring a music room larger than their own living room for chamber music rehearsals or for playing through a programme for friends will find the generous proportions of the Salon/Concert room very attractive.

We have a winner!

Salon/Concert Room
with use of Steinway C type grand piano: ?25/hour



I'll make enquiries I think piano playdays are definitely a nice idea. I think having seperate "open to all" and "learners only" days is a good plan though, maybe on a rotating basis

I can always be creative in my wording

I know this place, it's thoroughly lovely , and I think it's eminently suitable for forummy concerts and suchlike, if the price is right

Well I am in, not going away, looks like we will be doing some decorating instead. But not on the 24th as I will be coming to London to play on the Grand!

I have had a few plays on a Grand now, as when I go to Pro Corda you get the chance there, and it is lovely!

Pasta should be fine for me Barry.

Thanks Solari and Barry for sorting this out.

ET

*makes note* : thanks eldatom!

Cool! Myself and/or Barry will most likely meet you at London Bridge - we'll sort something out closer to the time!

Really looking forward to this, I'll be like a pig in the proverbial!

I am looking forward to it too, it will just be what I need after the memorial service a week tomorrow and then mu exam on the 19th! I am of course lucky and have Pro Corda on the 15th - 18th.

Let me know what sort of time we are looking at so that I can check out the trains and make sure that I can get one to London Bridge.

Thanks.

Phoenix is fine with me. Oddly enough, I am going there this evening.

Mid-afternoon start I believe. I'm booking the Phoenix for about 5-ish

JoMook : do PM me the drink selection at the Phoenix!

when you finish, if you leave the shop, turn right, go straight over poland street, straight over berwick street, until you reach wardor street. then opposite side of the road about 30 yards down on the right is Chappels of Bond street. Probably a 5 minute walk. Great music shop.. upstairs has incredible collection a yamaha accoustics from huge concert grands down. basement has more sheet music than you can shake a stick at..

Ah, only just read this. Sorry

They have a huge variety of beers. They also sell sambucca.....Lunch will sort me.

Thank goodness we are playing before... I have tried to play after a few bevvies and its not pretty I can tell you!!!!

Blagging a go on the concert grands there isn't easy though unless you look like a serious potential buyer Playing around on the Clavinovas generally isn't a problem, however. I had several visits there trying them out until I managed to get any sort of shortlist together.

I think going anywhere selling sheet music is dangerous for me as I've already got a huge stack of stuff and have a huge backlog!

Sounds good to me JoMook : thanks!

Barry - as the session starts at 2, should we aim to be at London Bridge for 1pm to meet Eldatom? We can then make our way to the venue at a liesurely pace?

1pm sounds sensible : that will allow plenty of time to get there, meet the people at the venue and get everything sorted